MartinLogan Dynamo Subwoofer Comparison (600X, 800X, 1100X, 1600X)

READ OUR COMPARISON: bit.ly/2Me914Q
SHOP THESE SUBS:
MartinLogan Dynamo 400D Subwoofer: bit.ly/2NjIlUT
MartinLogan Dynamo 600X Subwoofer: bit.ly/2wRm722
MartinLogan Dynamo 800X Subwoofer: bit.ly/2NW1N74
MartinLogan Dynamo 1100X Subwoofer: bit.ly/2NlKYWb
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer: bit.ly/2wUVkBU
All of the top four subwoofers in the Dynamo lineup work with the MartinLogan Subwoofer Control App. These include the Dynamo 600X, 800X, 1100X, and 1600X. Next, let’s discuss each of these models to see if we can help you determine which one is right for your setup.
The MartinLogan Dynamo 600X is a 10” subwoofer with a 120 watt power amp. The driver itself uses an inverted surround with what MartinLogan calls a poly cone. The amp can put out up to 240 watts of peak power and it uses one of our favorite types of transistors -- MOSFETS. The box itself weighs in at 35 pounds and the physical dimensions of the sub are roughly a 15” cube. You’ll see the low turbulence port on the 600X which allows you to get a lot of bass energy out of a pretty small box.
On the rear of the sub, you’ll find an input for MartinLogan’s wireless receiver, the SWT-X. This is an optional accessory that can send the LFE signal over to your sub wirelessly! If have a room where hiding the subwoofer cable might be a problem, this is a great option. For a modestly sized home theater room, a 600X will provide great bass.
The next sub in the line, the Dynamo 800X, also uses a 10” inverted surround poly cone woofer. However, with the 800X and up, all of the models have a sealed, non-resonant cabinet. It’s roughly a 13” cube, so it’s actually slightly smaller than the 600X. A sealed box means that the 800X will provide much faster and tighter bass than you get in the 600X, but it does require a bit more power. MartinLogan ups this one to 300 watts with the capability to hit 600 watts on peak output.
One thing we love about MartinLogan’s higher-end subs is the ability to change the configuration from downward-firing to front-firing. Not everyone has a nice corner where they can place their sub. In fact, we’ve had a number of customers who put their sub in a cabinet. While this is not ideal, the ability to switch it from front-firing to downward-firing improves the sound, as it fires into the bottom of the cabinet rather than the door.
Another benefit of moving up to the 800X is the addition of spiked feet. They’re hidden under the standard rubber feet and can be adjusted to help you get the sub perfectly level and coupled to the floor. We have found that in most listening tests, anchoring the sub produces cleaner bass and better tonal quality.
The Dynamo 1100X has everything the 800X has, but with a 12-inch woofer in a 17-inch cube. It weighs in at 46 pounds and has and amp that is rated at 650 watts continuous and 1,300 peak.
The 1100X will give you that same tight, fast bass as you’ll get in the 800X, but it goes deeper due to its larger driver.
In addition to the standard RCA inputs, the 1100X also has balanced audio inputs for both the LFE as well as the Left and Right inputs. The 1100X is perfect for listening to music and can easily blend with even the fastest bookshelf speakers. As a matter of fact, for pure music reproduction, we like the 12” model the best. It just seems to strike the perfect balance between speed and deep bass.
As you may have guessed, the Dynamo 1600X is again, simply a step up in size. It’s got a huge 15-inch driver, sealed in an 18-inch cube. Be sure to lift with your knees, because this guy weighs in at a whopping 57 pounds! The amp can put out 900 watts of continuous power and 1,800 peak.
When you want earth shattering bass, yet the ability to hear the tonal quality of an upright bass when you are listening to music, consider the 1600X. This thing really digs down deep. If you take your home theater experience to a whole different level you could even consider adding a second 1600X. With the ability to adjust each of them separately using the app, you might literally blow the socks off of anybody that comes by to take a listen.
MUSIC - Ryan Little: bit.ly/2Qq1Tp3